System and method for capturing and repurposing gas released during oilfield operations

Abstract

A release gas capture and repurposing system and method designed for use in oilfield operations. The system includes a collection assembly that is attached to oilfield equipment to gather gas released during operation. Once collected, the release gas is channeled to a pressure vessel where the release gas is securely captured. A meter is installed in fluid communication with this vessel, which serves to measure the amount of captured release gas. The system also incorporates a conduit network that prevents the release of gas and condensate vapors to open-top tanks by directing the captured release gas to a designated location. Further, the system includes an emissions calculator that estimates a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions based on a quantity of release gas captured and redirected by the system relative to conventional methods and quantified by the meter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for capturing and repurposing gas released during oilfield operations, the system comprising:
 a collection assembly connected to oilfield equipment to collect release gas;   a pressure vessel configured to receive and capture the release gas from the collection assembly and maintain the release gas under pressure;   a meter in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for quantifying the captured gas;   a conduit system for preventing the release of gas and condensate vapors to any open-top tanks by directing the captured release gas to a destination; and   an emissions calculator for estimating a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions based on a quantity of release gas captured and redirected by the system relative to conventional methods and quantified by the meter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel is adapted to maintain the release gas captured in the pressure vessel at a pressure suitable for subsequent transport through a pipeline. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel comprises baffles in an interior chamber thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the meter comprises a flow meter configured to measure a volume of the release gas redirected to the destination in terms of Mcf (thousand cubic feet). 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a financial analysis module configured to calculate an economic value derived from the captured release gas based on market price or a methane penalty cost associated with emissions from conventional oilfield operations processes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a measurement module configured to provide the emissions calculator and the financial analysis module with input and gas composition data retrieved from the collection assembly, the pressure vessel, and the meter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the emissions calculator generates an inventory statement and the financial analysis module generates a gas volume statement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collection assembly is selected from at least one of a sand trap, a manifold, or a phase separator adapted for use at natural gas wells, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit system directs the captured release gas to a downstream natural gas pipeline. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit system directs the captured release gas to a combustion device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to reduce methane emissions relative to a conventional flowback process, a well drill out operation, a convention well kickoff, or a conventional blowdown process by capturing release gases that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         12 . A method for capturing and repurposing gas released during oilfield operations, the method comprising:
 collecting release gas by a collection assembly connected to oilfield equipment;   receiving and capturing the release gas from the collection assembly into a pressure vessel;   maintaining the release gas under pressure in the pressure vessel;   quantifying the captured release gas by a meter in fluid communication with the pressure vessel;   directing the captured release gas to a destination by a conduit system; and   estimating by an emissions calculator a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions based on a quantity of the captured release gas directed to the destination relative to conventional methods.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising maintaining the captured release gas in the pressure vessel at a pressure suitable for subsequent transport through a pipeline. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising measuring a volume of the release gas redirected to the destination in terms of Mcf (thousand cubic feet) by the meter comprising a flow meter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising calculating by a financial analysis module an economic value derived from the captured release gas based on a market price or a methane penalty cost associated with emissions from conventional flowback process. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising generating by the emissions calculator an inventory statement and generating by the financial analysis module a gas volume statement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising collecting the release gas from at least one of a sand trap, a manifold, or a phase separator adapted for use at natural gas wells, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising directing the captured release gas to a downstream natural gas pipeline by the conduit system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising directing the captured release gas to a combustion device by the conduit system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising reducing methane emissions relative to a conventional flowback process, a well drill out operation, a convention well kickoff, or a conventional blowdown process by capturing release gases that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere.